you bet

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I went to a restaurant yesterday. After I paid I said "thanks" to the manager. He replied" you bet!"
That's confusing. Is it equal to "You are welcome"

If somebody say "Take care" to me, can I reply "You bet" to imply that "I will take care"?

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Can ''you bet'' also mean yes or something in the affirmative? I often hear this in films. When one is asking another a question, the other replies ''You bet.'' And I take that to mean yes. Is this correct?

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Can ''you bet'' also mean yes or something in the affirmative? I often hear this in films. When one is asking another a question, the other replies ''You bet.'' And I take that to mean yes. Is this correct?

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Senior Member

Could anybody be so kind to explain the meaning of "You bet" in context as follows:
--
"I missed it and would have have sold it for one hundred pounds and it's worth..." he turned to Pat. "Ten thousand?"
"Forty maybe."
"Yes" said Pete. "You bet. But this painting, how do you know that it is whatever you think it is?

Senior Member

As jonny said, it would mean "I agree" "yes" "certainly" or something like that... and this is true in almost any case you see "You bet." If something follows it, like, "... on the horses," then they're talking about the actual betting. But otherwise, seen alone, it will almost always mean this.

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But i am confused about that the subject in the first sentence is "he", while the one in the second sentence is "I". It seems that "you" VS "I" are usually used in the two-person dialog. Why? Can you tell me the truth? Thank you!

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post mod (English Only / Latin)

If they said "take care", it is not likely that they meant that you had done something wrong. The thought behind it is as preppie said. We often say "take care" as way of saying "good-bye", and we mean to show a friendly concern for the person.

Was there something about what was said that made you think it might be a criticism? If you tell us more about the situation and who said what, we can discuss that particular interaction.

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Thank you so much for your concern, Cagey. It was just a very simple situation in an office where I used some equipment and I said Thank you, Happy Easter when leaving. Since I got used to hear something different in reply, I thought that I said or did something inappropriate.

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I was buying a pair of jeans at the store. The shop assistant helping me was American. He was helping me bringing pairs of different sizes, trying to find the best one. At the end, I thanked him by saying 'Thank you!' and he responded by saying 'You bet'. I've never encountered such phrase with regard to this context. Please tell me what it means. Is it just a polite response, like "you're welcome" or "no problem"? Or had he expressed some hidden intention? If yes, what was the intention? Was it hostile?

I'd add meanings such as "That's for sure" of "I think so, too." Tom: Now that Bill's entered the race, I think he'll win it. John. You bet! Co-worker to another: I think I'm in deep trouble with the boss." "You bet you are!"

I think the concept is there in the UK, but you Brits are just not as pithy as the Americans. From a Guardian story, below. The last sentence in AE, is "You bet'cha." [=You can be sure of it]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/mar/08/chelsea-managerial-hunt-mini-series/How Chelsea's managerial hunt turned into a bonkbusting US mini-series …the Football Association revealed that it has finally compiled a list of candidates to succeed the broodingly passionate maestro, Don Fabio. […]The list was referred to as a "shortlist" suggesting that the International Committee had started out with a longlist, though exactly how long this longlist was would, at this stage, be futile to speculate[…]Will the FA's list contain some of the same names as Chelsea's list? You can bet your life on it./

Senior Member

I think the concept is there in the UK, but you Brits are just not as pithy as the Americans. From a Guardian story, below. The last sentence in AE, is "You bet'cha." [=You can be sure of it]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/mar/08/chelsea-managerial-hunt-mini-series/How Chelsea's managerial hunt turned into a bonkbusting US mini-series …the Football Association revealed that it has finally compiled a list of candidates to succeed the broodingly passionate maestro, Don Fabio. […]The list was referred to as a "shortlist" suggesting that the International Committee had started out with a longlist, though exactly how long this longlist was would, at this stage, be futile to speculate[…]Will the FA's list contain some of the same names as Chelsea's list? You can bet your life on it./

What I meant - and I assume Biffo meant too - is that we would not (yet) use "you bet" or any version of it as a response to "thank you" (our answers were in response on what is now #24). In the Guardian context it is not at all uncommon.

Senior Member

What I meant - and I assume Biffo meant too - is that we would not (yet) use "you bet" or any version of it as a response to "thank you" (our answers were in response on what is now #24). In the Guardian context it is not at all uncommon.

Senior Member

What I meant - and I assume Biffo meant too - is that we would not (yet) use "you bet" or any version of it as a response to "thank you" (our answers were in response on what is now #24). In the Guardian context it is not at all uncommon.

Senior Member

"You bet" and "you betcha" to mean "you're welcome" are very much current in the northern Midwest of the US, especially Minnesota. It's so ubiquitous that saying "you're welcome" sounds oddly stiff and formal. However, if you leave that area, it sounds quaint or even a little rude. The equivalent in New York would be "no prob" or "no problem".

I think too there is sometimes a suggestion of reciprocity as when people say A: "Thank you." B: "Thank you!" [I see you're thanking me, and I thank you, likewise.] Possible meaning of "You bet'cha."

A: "I want to thank you." B: "I see that! Fine!"

A: "You've done a lot of good work for me." B: "Indeed, I have [=You can bet it was a lot of work!]; no problem!" [=You Bet'cha]

In short, 'You can bet on it,' is a kind of assurance or ratification of something just said or done, as in the Guardian's example. My impression is that the Brits are right next door to some of the American usages, but in longer phrasings.

Senior Member

There is an outrageous video on YT showing a traffic stop. It occurs the driver is a judge, furious that he's been pulled over. The judge gets out of the vehicle and says with a hectoring tone of voice: 'You'd better check the registration on this plate soon". Looks like the officer indeed becomes daunted after he's checked the tag, comes back to the driver and says "Have a good day, judge". The judge replies still angrily "You bet!" So what is the meaning here? Something like "I certainly will!" or "No doubt I will"?

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There is an outrageous video on YT showing a traffic stop. It occurs the driver is a judge, furious that he's been pulled over. The judge gets out of the vehicle and says with a hectoring tone of voice: 'You'd better check the registration on this plate soon". Looks like the officer indeed becomes daunted after he's checked the tag, comes back to the driver and says "Have a good day, judge". The judge replies still angrily "You bet!" So what is the meaning here? Something like "I certainly will!" or "No doubt I will"?

I would need to see the video, but "you bet," in a typical context, is a common response to a friendly wish to the recipient (ie. "Have a good day, judge.") It implies, "I will. Thanks."

If the judge said it angrily, it's the same context as saying "I certainly will!" AND an implied "thank you" at the same time. In this context, the implied "thank you" is a little back-handed because it implies, "Whatever. Let's dispense with the pleasantries and both be on our way!" It's the bare-minimum, semi-civil response to someone giving you a friendly wish.

99.9% of the time, "you bet(cha)," in America, is a positive, yet informal, response. You can always tell the implied meaning with the tone of how it's said. You might hear it in a deadpan tone in the service industry (but, more often, "you're welcome.") when an employee is just automatically going through a verbal transaction (ie. a sale from your car in a fast-food restaurant drive-through line.) It doesn't mean they're rude, per se. It usually just means they are a disinterested teenager.